The Partitions of Poland refer to three divisions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that occurred in the late 18th century. These partitions were carried out by the neighboring powers of Russia, Prussia, and Austria in 1772, 1793, and 1795, resulting in the complete dissolution of Poland as an independent state. As a result of the partitions, Poland lost its sovereignty and was divided among the three empires. The partitions significantly impacted Polish culture and identity, leading to various uprisings and efforts to regain independence, which was finally achieved in 1918 after World War I.